[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/belaire3.jpg” caption=”Karen Belaire”]McMaster's new vice-president administration sees a lot of parallels between the university and hospital environments.

As vice-president of finance and corporate services at St. Joseph's Hospital, Karen Belaire has been involved in the acquisition of funding for research infrastructure, the rebuilding of physical facilities, and the development of human resources at St. Joseph's.

“When the Hospital Services Restructuring Commission went through town it further enhanced and expanded the direction for St. Joseph's Hospital. The result has been a huge redevelopment of this site and I have been a part of this,” she says.

Her experience is bound to be an asset at McMaster. The University will experience extensive change over the next few years as it prepares for an increase in student enrolment, seeks to renovate facilities, and aims to rebuild faculty and staff complements, following the many recent retirements.

“All of the professional industries are feeling the crunch with such a shortage (of qualified professionals). Organizations are re-examining how they work with people and the environments they are providing with a view to developing and providing an environment of choice,” says Belaire.

A graduate of York University and a certified general accountant, Belaire joins McMaster on April 1.

Prior to St. Joseph's, she served as vice-president finance at Credit
Valley Hospital for six years where she was responsible for the
implementation of new financial systems, and the design and implementation of a management compensation package which recognized and rewarded excellence.

For Belaire, one of the nice things about joining McMaster is the opportunity she will have to build upon the working relationships she now enjoys (primarily with people in the Faculty of Health Sciences) and to forge new working relationships.

Paul Donoghue continues as interim vice-president, administration, until the end of March. As assistant vice-president health sciences, he will work with University President Peter George on the province's Expert Panel that will plan for the longer term physician needs of the province.